Another reason to take your Vits and etc... scary

This was posted on the Grad board... a good reminder that this is a life change not a few years of work and coast...


 posted this on the general board as well but since Im 5 years out - thought I should post here too!

First - let me start by saying my spelling and grammer suck so if you feel the need to correct me and point out every word I spell wrong, please just ignore my post now before you read any more.... Also - don't flame me for my post - I am not writting this to hear how stupid I am - Trust me - I have been telling myself this enough. I am writting this to open everyones eyes to how dangerous things can get if YOU DON"T LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTOR!!!!

I just had my 5 year anniversary. I have successfuly kept off 140lbs. I had a 15 lb bounce back at about 2 1/2 years out but have maintined since then. For the first 2 years I saw my doctor exactly as required. I followed the rules.

Over the past year, I have been very sick. I have seen 3 Neurologist and have been tested for everything from Lupus to MS. MRI's, various scans, tests, you name it - I've been through it. I have quite a few cognative problems. My short-term memory is a mess, when I speak- sometimes the wrong words come out (I know what Im trying to say - it just doesn't want to make it from my head to my mouth), I have a lot of confussion now, I get very dizzy, I can't manuver my feet well enough to even walk down a flight of steps, I have numbness in my hands & feet... The list goes on..  I have racing heartbeats, I am always freezing cold - even if its 80 degrees out. I have absolutely no energy or strength at all and I use to go to the gym twice a day. Its been one of those "I know my body - I know something is wrong - please help me" feelings but we could never find out the cause. About 6 months ago my Neurologist said that MS comes with so many different signals that he was pretty sure that was what what happening to me.

This week I had my 5 year check up with my Bypass Doc & as soon as I walked int he door, I could tell he didn't look happy. I couldn't figure why... Well --- my bloodwork was a mess!!!!
My Iron should be in the 170-28 range and it is 12!
My B-12 should be near 180 and its 42!!!!!!
My Hemoglobin should be 15.5-11.5 and its 8
My folate should be 5.2 and its 8.6

I stopped taking my vits about 2 years out. I knew how the doctors stressed that it was a lifetime change but thought I was the exception. I figured that since I had reached goal and maintined that I could follow my own rules and now I have done perminant damage to myself. Its going to take months to try to get my levels up to where they should be & to see what neurological problems correct themselves. My doctor said that he has never seen a B12 as low as mine (yipee - I win the prize) and that he is afraid that with as long as I have been without my suppliments, the damage may all be perminant.

PLEEZE PLEEZE PLEEZE -  Be smarter then me!!! Listen to your doctor. Don't feel that you are the exception to the rule. Spend the extra few dollars each month for the correct suppliments and take care of yourself.

Thank you,

I am 3 months out and have been forgetting alot lately to take my vit.  your story realy helps us NOOBs.

Thanks for sharing this, Linda honey - it is SOOOO important!  EVERYONE needs to read this and take it to heart !

TAKING VITAMINS IS A REST-OF-YOUR-LIFE COMMITMENT.   NOT TAKING THEM IS NOT AN OPTION.  IF YOU HAD SURGERY AND ARE CHEATING YOUR BODY BY NOT TAKING YOUR VITAMINS, YOU DIDN'T DESERVE TO HAVE SURGERY IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I know, that sounds harsh.  But seriously - if a person doesn't understand that from the get-go, the problems that can develop due to malnutrition might be worse than the problems that develop due to obesity.  It's serious, and it's sad to think that someone who has WLS to improve their life would think they can ignore that important part of the deal!

Take your vitamins and supplements, people!  They don't have to taste good - they can be gritty and nasty and taste like wallpaper paste!  YOU STILL NEED TO TAKE THEM!!!

Thanks for that straight talk Darla.... I wanted to but know that people have gotten offended in the past by my straight up  talk.
I dont believe in candy coating things... its our life ....
Just because you cant see your insides changed doesnt mean they arent.  We are plumbed differently and I have no time for watching someone kill themselves by not taking this seriously.


Hugs beautiful girl!

AMEN SISTA!!!!!    gets real hard once in a while  .......must control fingers......

Thanks for all your support the past few months!!!!  You rock Ms. Mentor!!!!

I know that was harsh, and I know I'm not one to follow all of the rules 100%.  But this is a fundamental component of life post-WLS, and I have been made aware of too many really ugly consequences in those who don't follow it.  People need to understand HOW important it is, and realize that we all have the ability to make it a non-issue by JUST DOING IT.

My hubby has ALWAYS taken his vitamins, religiously.  I never did.  When he started learning about what my life would be like post-op, he begged me to stay on top of that.  He doesn't say much about it now, but just the fact that he made an issue of that with me as I was preparing for this whole crazy ride has stuck with me.

You were right - very scary.  I just walked in a took my nightly vitamin, something I have been careless about of late. 

I hope that the person who posted that will be okay.  Something that seems so insignificant can be so life saving.

Thanks for posting

Linda Anne ....thank you so much for posting this. There are reasons why the doctors give us rules. We need to do our part and follow them.

Love you sweetie......hugs....connie d

Thanks for posting such an IMPORTANT reminder!!!  I hope everyone listen to this woman's plea to stay on top of the vits!!!!  It is life threatening not to!

HUGS my precious friend!

Good post -- another reason to follow the rules the professionals give us.....

Cyber Hugs